To increase the presence of women in innovation, especially in the science, technology, mathematics and engineering sectors, the emphasis must be on raising awareness from elementary school, mentoring, the presence of role models, networking… and bring together more male allies.
This is the opinion of three women who work in the high spheres of innovation in Quebec, Paule De Blois, President and CEO of Axelys, Maritza Jaramillo, professor at the National Institute of Scientific Research, and Ekaterina Turkina, Professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at HEC Montréal.
All three admit to having encountered obstacles themselves throughout their professional career.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Paule De Blois, President and CEO of Axelys
I never felt that being a woman limited me, except when I approached managerial positions, at the executive level. At that time, yes, I got derogatory comments from time to time.
Paule De Blois, President and CEO of Axelys
For meme Jaramillo, it was especially during his training to become a biologist in Colombia that things got tough. “I have been discriminated against and offended,” she says, “but you shouldn’t listen to bad comments. I am convinced that in the years to come, a woman in innovation, let’s say an engineer, that will be normal, we will not talk about her again. We will have moved on. ”
Mme Turkina considers herself “very lucky” to have suffered “little resistance” in her career. “But I can’t say that prejudices and stereotypes don’t exist for women in science,” she says.
Women represent 30.2% of graduates of the bachelor’s degree in engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, a record level, according to the establishment’s figures released last April. This figure drops to 15% in terms of the proportion of women among the members of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec.
“And if we look at innovation in information and communications technologies, the proportion of women is 20%, a figure that has stagnated since 2011,” notes Mme Jaramillo.
Increasing since 2000
HEC Montréal professor Ekaterina Turkina studies the proportion of women, compared to men, who obtain patents for innovations, on a global scale. “In the 1970s and 1980s, it was very marginal,” she says, “but since the 2000s, there has been a lot of improvement, particularly in Quebec, which is doing well in Canada and even in North America. ”
Present in sectors related to life sciences, such as biochemistry and medicine, women are under-represented in science, technology, mathematics and engineering. Why ? Paule De Blois, who heads Axelys, where we find parity between men and women, tries an explanation:
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Paule De Blois, President and CEO of Axelys
Innovations come with graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral studies. There is a desire among young women to stabilize themselves in a job, if they want to start a family, for example.
Paule De Blois, President and CEO of Axelys
Maritza Jaramillo is of the same opinion: “There are barriers to leadership positions, on the side of professors, researchers, in the leadership positions of universities, and not only on the side of women, but of diversity itself. However, this diversity is important, she emphasizes. “It has been shown that we are more creative when we evolve in a universe of plurality of points of view, diversity of backgrounds, cultures, genders and sexual orientations. ”
Solutions to go further
The solutions exist, believe the three experts, and several have already been launched. Programs like the “30 in 30” initiative of Engineer Canada, which aims to increase the proportion of female engineers in Canada to 30% by 2030, or in the field, the Force de la Chaire Symposium for women engineers. women in science and engineering in Quebec from the University of Sherbrooke, pushing to interest girls in the world of innovation.
“Young girls must be made aware of the sciences and all their derivatives, such as law, scientific journalism or even the profession of patent agent,” remarks Mme From Blois. Science isn’t just holding a beaker in a lab! “
Mme Jaramillo insists that environments must be created for young girls to feel comfortable in.
It’s not just boys who are good at science! Education begins at home and at school. We must stop the division by gender, and this must be reflected throughout the training.
Maritza Jaramillo, professor at the National Institute of Scientific Research
She also talks about the importance of putting in place “facilitating conditions”, such as greater flexibility in schedules and affordable daycare near workplaces.
Her advice to those interested in innovation, whether in entrepreneurship or IT? “I would like to tell them: you have everything you need. Surround yourself with mentors, role models, allies, teachers… and a good partner if you want kids. ”
A list to which Mme De Blois adds: “Believe in yourself. And get started! ”